UNIX Printing : PS vs PCL

  • Thread starter Thread starter sinleeh
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sinleeh

Dear all,

Does anyone have any opinion or links to websites that discusses the
popularity of PS vs PCL printing on Unix/Linux system. I am always told
that PS is the most popular way of printing with UNIX but someone is
trying to dispute it. I don't mind being wrong, but would just like to
see the full picture.

Many thanks in advance
sinleeh
 
Does anyone have any opinion or links to websites that discusses the
popularity of PS vs PCL printing on Unix/Linux system. I am always told
that PS is the most popular way of printing with UNIX but someone is
trying to dispute it. I don't mind being wrong, but would just like to
see the full picture.
Click to expand...

Post Script is definitely the most popular, but PCL will work also and is
about as popular. It really doesn't matter what type of printer you have,
unless it is Windows specific. CUPS and the other popular print engine,
which I can't remember off hand since I use CUPS at home, will handle
almost any printer out there.

I am currently looking to by a networkable color laser printer, and all the
printers that have Post Script capability do come with Linux drivers for
the most popular distributions. I don't think I have seen one that
doesn't.

I do know that if you don't use the manufacturer's drivers you often don't
get access to the full capability, such as all the possible DPI settings,
toner or ink saver mode, duplexing, etc.
 
Dear all,

Does anyone have any opinion or links to websites that discusses the
popularity of PS vs PCL printing on Unix/Linux system. I am always told
that PS is the most popular way of printing with UNIX but someone is
trying to dispute it. I don't mind being wrong, but would just like to
see the full picture.
Click to expand...

Postscript is the default; but that doesn't mean the actual printer
hardware has to have PostScript (though that's more efficient, and
with a network printer a pretty standard feature). If it's actually a
PCL printer the printer daemon will convert to that. However, up till
then the print stream is probably PS, and there are a bunch of tools
for manipulating PS that can be used on it; even if in the end it's
output as PCL.
 
rl27 said:
I do know that if you don't use the manufacturer's drivers you often don't
get access to the full capability, such as all the possible DPI settings,
toner or ink saver mode, duplexing, etc.
Click to expand...

Yup. That's the second problem that I usually find as well. Generally I
find it slightly more difficult to print using all these fancy settings
on Linux. But it is only to be expected if ne do not use manufacturer's
drivers.

Thanks for your reply,
Sinleeh
 
IC.

Your descriptions about print stream is probably PS and that the
printer driver convert from PS->PCL is what I normally thought is
happening with non-PS printer. I did have a manufacturer Tech Support
that tells me it can print to PCL but not postscript unless I buy the
PS Add-on. This sounds strange to me. The printer in question also
seems to be a bit strange as it can support BSD printing but not CUPS.

I know that PS Printer is the recommended route for Linux Printing. I
am wondering whether UNIX/Linux applications natively print to PS or
can use either PS/PCL route.

Many thanks for your reply.

Best regards,
Snleeh
 
I know that PS Printer is the recommended route for Linux Printing. I
am wondering whether UNIX/Linux applications natively print to PS or
can use either PS/PCL route.
Click to expand...

It depends on the application. Desktop Publishing programs definitely.
Filters an utilities like psprint are all over the place. However with the
right daemon and print engine running it should all be transparent. At
least in linux.

Solaris on the other hand is a pain, at least the last time I tried setting
up a Sparc 4. HP-UX is much easier to setup, especially with HP printers,
at least thats what the Sysadmins have told me.

Ron
 
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